Cartons



Jan. 26, 1960 J. F. CURRIVAN 2,922,561

CARTONS Filed Nov. 1, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR L/OHN F Q/RP/vA/v BY M ATTORNEYS Jan. 26, 1960 J. F. CURRIVAN 2,922,561

CARTONS Filed Nov. 1, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 51 Jaw 1. a/RRIVAN CARTONS John F. Currivan, Old Saybrook, Conn, assignor to Carton Associates, Incorporated, Louisville, Ky, a corporation of Delaware Application November 1, 1956, Serial No. 619,735

3 Claims. (Cl. 229-40) This invention relates to paperboard cartons and more particularly to such cartons of the sleeve type adapted to enclose a number of cylindrical cans or like articles.

Cartons of this general type are now in widespread use particularly for the packaging of beer cans. Such cartons offer many advantages over the so-called full carton having end flaps since they require substantially less paperboard and fewer gluing operations and permit the contents of the carton to be partially visible for more effective merchandising.

Despite these advantages of the sleeve carton, the full cartons continue to be used in many cases in preference to the sleeve cartons primarily because of the fact that prior cartons of the sleeve type have lacked adequate provision for retaining the cans within the sleeve with the result that cans may be accidentally dislodged cans ing considerable inconvenience to the customer.

Many constructions have been proposed to remedy this defect and positively lock the cans Within the sleeve. However, all known prior attempts to solve this problem have been at best only partially efiective or have required the use of additional paperboard to the extent that they provide little or no cost advantage over the full carton having end flaps. Further, many of the locking devices of prior cartons have been so constructed that it is difficult or inconvenient to remove a can from the carton. Usually the removal of one can involves destruction of the locking device so that the remaining cans cannot be retained in the carton.

Also, prior sleeve type cartons embodying relatively complex locking devices have been difficult to load with conventional machines or have required expensive special loading devices and techniques.

With the foregoing considerations in mind it is the principal purpose and object of the present invention to provide improved sleeve type cartons for cans and like containers which incorporate novel locking devices for positively retaining the cans tightly within the carton and which require a negligible additional amount of paperboard.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide improved locking devices for sleeve containers which permit either the loading of the cartons with conventional equipment with subsequent manual locking of the cans within the carton or loading and locking the cartons in a fully automatic process.

.It is a further object of the present invention to provide improved locking devices for sleeve cartons which may be unlocked easily by the consumer to permit the removal of one or more cans and thereafter be locked again to retain the remaining cans within the carton.

Additional objects and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a cut and scored blank from which the carton of the present invention is erected;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the carton erected from the blank of Figure 1;

2,922,561 Patented Jan. 26, I960 Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of one of the locking devices at the opposite ends of the carton in unlocked position;

Figure 4 is. an end view of the locking device shown in locked position;

Figure 5 is a plan View of a modified carton blank;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary top plan view of the carton formed from the blank of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the modified locking device in locked position;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary top plan view of one end of the modified carton;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a further modification, showing the carton erected and loaded; and

Figures 10 and 11 are fragmentary top and bottom plan views of the carton of Figure 9.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 1 through 4 of the drawings the carton of the present invention is preferably formed from a single blank 20 of relatively stiif paperboard. The blank is divided by parallel scored fold lines 22, 24, 26 and 28 into panels 30, 32, 34, 36 and 38 and cut along the lines indicated at 40. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1-4, the walls of the carton are so dimensioned that six cans such as beer cans arranged in two rows of three cans are tightly enclosed in the carton.

Openings 44 are formed in the erected carton at spaced points along the top and bottom edges of the side walls 36 and 32 through which the chimes or rims of the cans received within the carton project which to a limited extent lock the cans within the carton. The effectiveness of the locking cutouts 44 is limited by the fact that the combined width through the chimes of the cans received within the carton must be greater than the width of the top and bottom carton panels which renders it difiicult to load and pack the cans properly in a manner to assure the desired locking effect. If desired, the carton may be provided with a grip comprising cutouts 46 adjacent the free edge of the panel 38 and corresponding tabs 48 which are connected to the panel 30 along scored lines 50.

In accordance with the present invention locking formations are provided adjacent the opposite ends of the top and bottom panels substantially at the lateral midpoint of the carton. The locking formations formed in the bottom panel 34 comprise tabs 52 of generally triangular configuration, the base of the triangle being formed by a score line 54 extending substantially parallel to the adjacent end edge of the bottom panel 34. The remaining sides of the tab are formed by cuts along the line 56. After the cans are loaded into the carton, tabs 52 are pushed inwardly either manually or by automatic machinery to an angle of 30 or 40. In this position the tabs effectively block the passage of the lower end of the cans out of the open end of the carton. It will be noted that only one tab is required to lock both rows of cans. The tabs 52 are particularly effective since any pressure exerted on the tabs by the cans acts in a direction angularly related to rather than perpendicular to the fold line and thus does not merely bend the tab around the fold line 54.

in this form of the invention locking formations are also provided at the opposite ends of the top wall panel of the carton. The upper locking formations comprise identical tabs 58 and 60 formed in the panel 38 and identical tabs 62 and 64 formed in the panel 30.

The tabs 58 and 6&3 are separated from the body of the panel 38 by scored lines 66 and cut lines 68. The edges formed by the lines 66 and 63 are preferably perpendicularly related, each line being at an angle of substantially 45 with respect to the adjacent end edge of the panel 38. The free edges of the tabs 58 are cut away to provide a projecting locking lip 70-.

The tabs 62 and 64 are separated from the body panel 30 by fold lines 72 and cut lines 74, the former being at an angle of substantially 45 with the adjacent end edge of the panel 30 and the latter being normal to the free lateral edge of panel 30. The tabs 62 are divided by score line 76 which intersects and is normal to the fold line 72. As is best shown in Figure 3, when the carton is erected and glued the fold line 76 on the body of the tab 62 is oifset slightly with respect to the score line 66 on which the tab 58 is folded. Accordingly the tabs may be moved to the locked position shown in Figures 2 and 4 merely by pressing downwardly on the body of the tab 62 causing the respective tabs to fold downwardly about the respective fold lines 66 and 72. Simultaneously, the tab 62 is caused to fold along the score line 76. This action is continued until the fold line 76 assumes a position substantially normal to the plane of the top wall panel. Substantially at this position the free edge 78 of the tab 62 will pass under the locking projection 70 on the tab 58. The natural resilience of the paperboard thereafter wedges the edge 78 tightly between the locking finger 70 and the free edge 80 of the tab 58 to form an exceptionally strong obstruction against the inadvertent passage of a can out of the open end of the carton. Cans may easily be removed from the carton by disengaging the locking finger 70 from the tab 62 and by depressing the lower locking tab 52. The lower tab 52 will return to its locking position and the upper tabs may readily be restored to locking position by repeating the above described initial locking action.

Since the upper locking formations automatically engage when either of the tabs 62 or 64 is depressed, the tabs may readily be moved to locking position either manually or by automatic machinery. To facilitate machine handling of the carton the opposite ends of the carton side wall panels are cut away as at 82 and an opening 84 is provided in the bottom wall panel 34.

It will be noted that the incorporation of the locking tabs of the present invention in the standard sleeve carton involves the use of little or no additional paperboard. It is to be particularly noted that the free ends of the panels 30 and 38 are of complementary configuration so that a number of blanks may be stamped out of a single sheet of stock with negligible waste of paperboard.

A modified carton of generally the same configuration as the carton just described is shown in Figures through 8 to which detailed reference will now be made. The carton is erected from a blank indicated generally at 86 comprising a bottom panel (not shown) which is identical with the bottom panel 34 of the blank shown in Figure 1. The side wall panels 88 and 90 of the carton are also preferably identical to the side wall panels 32 and 36 of the previously described carton.

Top carton panel 92 is provided with identical locking tab formations 94. The tabs 94 are each articulated to the body of the top wall panel 92 by a score line 96 and the tab is separated from the top wall panel by cuts 98, 100, 102 and 104, the latter two cuts forming a notch along one edge of the tab. This form of the invention also includes a novel locked grip, one part of which is formed by tabs 106 articulated to the Wall panel 92 by score lines 108 and separated from the wall panel along a cut line 110 so that the tabs may bend freely about the score line 108.

Formations complementary to the tabs 94 and 106 are formed on the top wall panel 112 at the opposite end of the carton. The tabs 114 are formed by cuts along the lines 116, 118 and 120, and the body of the tab 114 is articulated to the body of the panel 112 by a scored line 122, which extends between the cut lines 116 and 120. A secondary tab 124 is separated from the main body of the tab 114 by cut lines 125 and 126.

Also formed in the top wall panel 112 are identical tabs 128, which are articulated to the body of the panel by scored fold lines 130. The body of the tabs 128 is cut from the panel 112 and is of generally circular configuration and has a maximum width slightly greater than the widths of the tabs 106. The tabs 128 are provided with neck portions 132 the width of which is substantially less than the width of the tabs 106. This neck portion is defined by projections 134 and formed integrally with the body of the top wall panel 112.

When erected the blank of Figure 5 forms a carton having substantially the same configuration as that shown in Figure 2. The inner surface of the top wall panel 92 is glued to the outer surface of the top wall panel 112, the glue being applied in two straight lengths alongthe area between the lateral edge of the panel 112 and the reference line 136 and a second area bounded by the reference lines 138. When the carton is thus erected and glued the tabs 106 overlie the tabs 128 and the tabs 94 overlie the tabs 114, the latter relation being shown particularly in Figure 6.

The score line 96 for the outer tab 94 is parallel with and offset slightly from the cut line 116 at the adjacent edge of the inner tab 114. Similarly, the cut line defining one edge of the inner tab is preferably parallel with an offset slightly from the score line 122 of the inner tab 114. Also, the cut lines 98, 102 and 104 are laterally spaced a distance slightly less than the distance between the corresponding cut lines 118 and of the inner tab. Accordingly, the outer tab may be swung inwardly about the score line 96 camming the inner tab 114 about the score line 122. This action continues until the point in the outer tab formed between the juncture of the cut lines 100 and 102 engages the corner in the inner tab 114 at the junction of the cut lines 124 and 126. Then due to the natural resilience of the paperboard, the main tab 114 swings outwardly thus firmly locking both the tab 94 and the tab 114 in position as shown in Figure 7. When the tabs are in the position shown in Figure 7, they effect substantially the same locking action with respect to the cans as the structure of Figure 2.

After the carton is erected, the outer grip tabs 106 are swung inwardly about their score lines 108. These tabs swing the inner tabs 128 similarly inwardly until the outer tabs pass beneath the projections 134 which thereafter positively lock both the inner and outer tabs 128 and 106 in depressed position to facilitate grasping of the carton as shown particularly in Figure 8.

The locking tabs 94, 114, 106 and 128 have an important secondary function. When they are in locked position, they effectively prevent separation of the top wall panels 92 and 112 and thus substantially reduce the gluing area required to hold the carton tightly wrapped around the enclosed containers during shipment and storage.

Figures 9, l0 and 11, to which detailed reference will now be made, illustrate a further modified form of carton, especially adapted for packaging a number of cylindrical cans or like containers arranged in a single row. In this form of the invention the carton is formed from a onepiece blank including a bottom wall panel 140, side wall panels 142 and 144 and inner top wall panel 146 and an outer top wall panel 148. The outer top panel 148 is provided with a pair of tabs 150 which are preferably substantially identical to the tabs 106, while the inner wall panel 146 is provided with underlying tabs which are identical to the tabs 128. Opposed locking projections 152 are provided on the inner top wall panel 146 which are substantially identical in structure and function to the projections 134 discussed above to retain the outer tabs 150 in depressed locking position as shown in Figures 9 and 10.

While the locking tabs 150 and associated projections 152 are of the same construction as the corresponding elements of the carton of Figure 5, nevertheless it will be noted that the position of these tabs is reversed end for end so that the rounded edges of the inner and outer tabs face toward the center of the carton in a position to engage the upper rim 154 of the can 156 at the end of the carton. Thus, the inner and outer tabs positively retain the can within the carton to the extent that other locking formations are not usually necessary. However, where added locking action is desired, the bottom wall panel 140 of the carton may be provided with additional tabs 158 which are preferably of the same construction and configuration as the outer tabs 150 of the outer top wall panel 148. Preferably the tabs 158 are bent about the score lines 160 before the cans are loaded into the carton. During loading the cans 156 pass freely over the tabs and when the carton is fully loaded the natural resilience of the paperboard disposes the curved free edge of the tab 158 in locking engagement with the adjacent rim 154 of the can 156.

Again, in addition to positively locking the cans within the carton, the locking tabs also hold the carton in assembled relation augmenting the action of the glue which is applied in straight parallel areas bounded by the respective edges of the inner and outer top wall panels 146 and 148 and the reference lines 162 and 164.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the above stated objects of the advantages have been attained by the provision of novel locking devices for sleeve cartons which are positive in action, which are releasable and renewable, which may be incorporated at little or no increased cost in standard sleeve cartons, and which permit the loading and locking of the cartons either manually or with fully automatic machinery.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. For example, it is to be understood that any of the cartons shown may be inverted to dispose the glue lap at the bottom of the carton. In the carton of Figures 1-4, this inversion of the carton would merely require that the finger grips be located in the panel 34 and that the opening 84 be cut from panels 30 and 38. Similar modifications would be required in the carton of Figures 5-8. No modification would be required to permit use of the carton of Figures 9-11 in inverted position. The present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a sleeve carton adapted to contain two rows of cans or like containers, one wall panel of said carton being formed by the overlapped end portions of the carton blank, means for preventing the accidental passage of said cans through the open ends of said carton comprising a first tab connected to one of said end portions only by a fold line; a second tab connected to the other end portion only by a fold line, said fold lines extending from substantially the lateral mid-point of said carton toward the adjacent end of said carton, said tabs being swingable inwardly about said fold lines from the plane of said one carton wall panel to positions substantially normal to said wall panel in which positions they form a V-shaped obstruction in the path of the cans at the end of each row of cans, and means for releasably locking said tabs in folded position.

2. The sleeve carton according to claim 1, wherein said last-mentioned means comprises a projection on one of said tabs and a recess on the other of said tabs, said projection being movable into locking engagement with said recess when said tabs are moved to positions substantially normal to the plane of the top of said top wall panel.

3. In a sleeve carton adapted to contain two rows of cans or like containers, said carton having top, bottom and side wall panels, said top wall panel of said carton being formed by the overlapped end portions of the carton blank, means for preventing the accidental passage of said cans through the open ends of said carton comprising a first tab articulated to one of said end portions, a second tab articulated to the other end portion, said tabs being swingable inwardly of said carton to positions substantially normal to said top wall panel to form a V-shaped obstruction in the path of the cans at the end of each row of cans, means for releasably locking said tabs in folded position and an additional locking tab formation articulated to said bottom wall panel foldable into the path of said cans at the end of each row of cans.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

